I cannot remember the last time I came off an episode so GLEEFUL! You know, that feeling of BURSTING with love and excitement.

I am going to confess that I actually had a tear when Sam walked into the room for the first time. Just to see his Sammy eyes. His beautiful soulful eyes. I just. I had a moment. I did. *sniff* WELCOME BACK SAM! GOD HOW I MISSED YOU!

I feel like can wallow in my Show again. I LOVED AND ADORED EVERY MOMENT the boys were together. Just to see Sam being Sam and Dean being SO thrilled to have him back. I felt this massive weight lifted...

It feels good.<3333333

Specifics:

* I really liked how they handled Bobby. It made sense to me that he would be cagey around Sam. I have no doubt Bobby will move past it, but by having Bobby like this acknowledges that Robo!Sam hurt people. Dean has already forgiven him and moved on. Bobby will, but it almost paid homage to soulless!Sam to have him not forgiving straight away. Soulless!Sam had an impact. I would have liked them to have a small conversation to clear the air, but that might come in the future. I'm cool with that. And after seeing Weekend at Bobby's we know that he has to put up with a lot from these two.

* Dean. Oh Dean. You were the embodiment of JOY! Just to see the smile again, the relaxed attitude, the cockiness - even the antics with sword. It just felt so comfortable. He felt comfortable. Even though there are new threats and he was holding a big secret from Sam it felt like nothing, NOTHING mattered more than having Sam back. Even the tiniest thing like bringing Sam back food, or letting Sam question the witness made him GLEEFUL. How awesome was that look he gave to see Sam CARE again. *LOVED*

* Sam. I've said it a gazzillion times but my hat goes off to Jared! It showed how well he nailed soulless!Sam because as soon as we saw Soulful Sam he was immediately recognisable as NOT being how he was before. Everything about him was warm and... and.... SAM! And the look on his face when he was told about his missing soul... OH. MY. GOD. That! That face is what I have missed...SAAAAMMMMMYYYY!!! And how awesome was Jared?! The huge RANGE of emotion crossing his face at that time (yes.. I have watched that little scene about 6 times now...!!) it to DIE for. That will HAVE to be vidded one day.. *g*

I also loved that after Sam found out about his soulless time he wasn't full of angsty guilt. He felt bad and he wants to fix it (I'm not sure how though...???) but the conversation at the end between the two boys was..idk... grown up or something. Sam had a calmness about him that I liked. He doesn't seem filled with anger has he has been. (yay!)

* Cas. I LOVE that Cas immediately came when Sam called and how genuinely happy he was to see Sam well. That almost!hug was hilarious. Cas really is attached to these two isn't he? I am continuing to love what they are doing with Cas this season. He's around *just* enough and feels like he's there for both boys. *hearts* him.

*I'm so glad they resolved Sam not knowing about what happened to him in this episode. I thought they might drag that out - and I love that Sam had to be clever to find out the truth. Might not have been fair that Cas was duped - but it showed Sam thinking. I like it when we see the boys thinking. :)

*Further development of the Monsters story arc. \o/ Plus a new mytharc to play around in. I mean... come on! Dragons and swords and STUFF! *woot*

* I worried about the "helpless" female victim story line initially, but sometimes show plays with cliches and when it's tied into everything else that went on in this episode it made some sense. (Though why did they need so many I wonder ??). Looks like we have a new female character also. It will be very interesting to see where this goes.

Also: HUG!!!! Hee! I thought Jared was gonna squash Jensen and Jim... God that man is huge! Did you SEE is forearms?!?! Holy Hell!! <3333 Jared in a white shirt! *swoon* Sam HAVING DEAN'S BACK AGAIN!! Did ya see him slay the monster attacking Dean... *be still my heart* \o/

But more than anything that the PAY OFF was worth everything we've been through up until now. I won't deny the first 11 episodes were hard for me to watch sometimes. It just plain HURT that we weren't watching the boys being....well... them. Now that I can look back (with a huge sigh of relief) I can really appreciate that it was an interesting and a worthwhile direction to take (back I'm glad it's over...)

Welcome back Show. I'm hoping I will not need my "Relax and Enjoy the Ride" icon any more. With Sam back I CAN relax and simply enjoy the ride (until the next heartbreak they throw at us that is.. *g*) :D :D :D::D

I was so god damn nervous before watching this one - so worried I was gonna be disappointed. But nah... I loved it. I am sure it was flawed, but I was too in love to see past Sam's soulful eyes.... <3333

Good to see the show is going to address Robo!Sam in a meaningful way that has emotional impact for Sam--this is the human Sam story I've been craving. And poor Bobby, I think he will come sround but it's understandable he'd feel like that.

Dean was adorable and bamfy without the desperate hard edged bamfy we've been having. Comfortable, perfect word for it. It's like Dean's soul healed because Sam got his soul back. There was a good sense of balance between them the show has been lacking for a while. I'm very happy.

Yes. Isn't it quite something. After all Show has put us through... (bastards! *g*) Way to tell a story though...

Good to see the show is going to address Robo!Sam in a meaningful way that has emotional impact for Sam

Yes. And I think I particularly liked that it was a gnashing of teeth and wavy arms. Just a deep emotion that I think Sam will wear for a while. I liked smilla02's take on it. He'll feel responsible for his actions as robo!Sam (as Dean did for his torturing) but not guilty. I like that this approach to them dealing with ..omg...everything they've been through.

It's like Dean's soul healed because Sam got his soul back.

Yes, yes, yes.. I typed up something to try and express that but couldn't find the words. It's like he's home now. Move evidence that their souls are linked. :D

And the balance was just so so wonderful. They slipped back into it all. I just loved how at home it felt for them to be in the Impala again like this.

As far as I'm concerned, as long as the boys aren't at odds with each other, I can take about anything Show has to offer. Season 4 & 5 were so hard to take because it often didn't even seem like they liked being anywhere near each other - yes, of course, they loved each other. But liking...? Not so sure.

I'm very happy this season because it's all about the brothers for me. Virgins and not!dragons.... not so much. But that's okay because Sammy was hungry! and Dean smiled, a real smile and not a bitter one... and Bobby was bitter but he'll get over it... and Cas was everything I wanted him to be in this one.

But I'm not sure we should put away that icon yet... just saying.... ;)

As far as I'm concerned, as long as the boys aren't at odds with each other, I can take about anything Show has to offer

WORD!!! And this is why I feel I can relax now. That episode even had them joking... JOKING! together. And smiling! When was the last time they did that???

The virgins and dragons and swords came completely out of the blue for me... I just. I'm curious about this development. Though I think it will be more about the "monster.... army is it? than a change to a fantasy setting. I suppose we shall wait and see. :)

But I'm not sure we should put away that icon yet... just saying.... ;)

I know, I know!! Even as I typed that I was thinking... ARCK! they'll do something mean. Short of making Sam evil I can't think what they could do to make me worry to the level I have done so far this season. But that said..... (?!!)

I ♥ this post so much. I have just done my own reaction (before scanning the general squeedom that has been my flist reaction) and we pretty much have an affinity on every point you said up here... And you're right re the kudos to Jared - I think he is very much underestimated and maligned sometimes in terms of his acting and I can't stand that because it's as plain as the nose on your face the guy has better than average acting chops. So vastly and vibrantly and unquestionably different from robo!Sam that it brought on immense feelings of relief and fondness from me for our Sam. I think the only person happier than us to see him back is Dean Winchester and that is totally by rights the way it should be.

My god... Jared has been acting up a storm. I love that he has been given the chance to show this. To play, what is essentially, two different characters has really been a test to what he can do. And I think he passed with flying colours. :D :D

They are back, they are back in the saddle again and how can everything not be right in the world . . . even with new baddies. They can handle anything now. And you nailed it by pointing out the newfound maturity and calmness the boys showed. Yes, that's it, that's what I was feeling. So in love with Show.

I loved that Show has allowed these characters to move forward, past the hand waving and excessive angst to show a deeper understanding of what they've been through. Not guilt, but acceptance. And now that they are back together they can face anything!! \o/

I agree! I'll be typing up my own thoughts a bit later. But for now, Sam has a soul (and Jared more than stepped up to what was asked of him), the guys are together and acting like brothers who love each other. It was funny and touching, and everything I wanted.

And strangely, I'm not a huge fan of Dean (well Jensen's) slap stick antics but I was also grinning from ear to ear during that scene. It's been A LONG TIME since we've had Dean so happy that he could fool around like that.

And the glee in being able to explode the rock! \o/

I am always close to fainting over Sam's hotness!! That man just does things to me...